Giving Up Alcohol: The Unexpected Confidence and Emotional Growth I Didn’t See Coming

When I decided the time had come to seriously give up alcohol and I signed up for Just The Tonic (JTT) in February 2025, the additional benefits and unexpected challenges took me by surprise.

I started my 30-day challenge with no alcohol on 2nd March and, having tried so many times before to cut down, stop for a month, stop on certain days, etc., I was unsure if I could ever do it.

I have not looked back since and, although not 100% free from alcohol yet — 11 evenings of minimal drinking in 260 days — to me this is astoundingly brilliant and a resounding success.

It hasn’t been easy, and I have been very lucky. With the support of certain friends, and my children in particular, I have felt motivated and inspired to stick with it.

However, the thing I am most astounded by is the other knock-on effects I was not expecting.

Not the improved sleep, major fitness improvements, clearer skin, lack of hangovers, more time on my hands etc. — all of which are great benefits — but the changes to my emotions and confidence.

Without realising it, I had been using alcohol to numb emotions. Without alcohol, I have had to learn how to deal with certain emotions and face them full on.  This is something I can now achieve. 

Grief, relationships, highs and lows, anger, and love — to name a few — have all struck me, along with my now unexpected ability to cope with them.

Some have taken longer than others. Some have been harder than others. But I am no longer burying them, and that has been an emotional journey with incredible discoveries about myself along the way.

I am not only giving others much more of my presence, but I am also far more aware that we all have issues. Because of this, I can give others more understanding during times when they may be short or less present with me.

I also give myself much more self-love. I now realise that ultimately, I am a strong, kind and caring person who is doing the best I can — using every opportunity to improve, better myself, and genuinely enjoy the voyage of discovery along the way.

Another side effect is something I have always struggled with: public speaking.

Whether in front of a few people or many, those I know or those I don’t, I used to find it daunting. But in the last three months, I have noticed how much more confidence I have in myself.

Standing up in public is no longer intimidating. In fact, I am almost beginning to enjoy it.

I can look people in the eyes and know I have nothing to hide anymore. I am proud of myself. I am coming to terms with my struggles from the past and learning how to cope with what life throws at me.

And that, more than anything, feels incredibly powerful.